Includes appearances at: Doors Open Toronto, The Isabel, and Montreal Baroque Festival

Toronto, May 24, 2022 … The sound of Tafelmusik fills the air as Canadian cities come back to vibrant life after a long winter. Tafelmusik is thrilled to animate community spaces in Toronto, Kingston, and Montreal this spring and summer, with engagements at Doors Open Toronto; the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston; and a concert honouring late Music Director Emerita Jeanne Lamon at the Montreal Baroque Festival. Online offerings include the latest Tafel Talk panel discussion, Remix Culture, and a digital edition of the annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (TBSI).

AT A GLANCE:

Tafel Talk: Remix Culture and the concept of authenticity
May 25 at 7pm EDT online
Tickets: $5. Join live or rewatch for 48 hours after the event concludes.
tafelmusik.org/remix-culture

Moderated by Cristina Zacharias, Tafelmusik violinist, with panelists:
Jennifer Jenkins, Director of Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain
Mathieu Lussier, Artistic Director of Arion Baroque Orchestra
SlowPitchSound, composer, mentor, and explorer of sound and visuals.  

While the term “remix” refers specifically to recorded music, the concept behind it and the practise of adapting, sampling, borrowing, and re-arranging has been with us for a very long time, from Bach to bebop. As remixes become more popular than ever, the practice raises many questions about context, originality, authenticity, and ownership. Our conversation explores these questions through a historical lens that takes us from the 17th century to the present day.

Doors Open Toronto
May 28 and 29, 10am to 5pm*
*Performance by members of Tafelmusik: May 29 at 2:30pm
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West
Free admission
toronto.ca/doorsopen

Tafelmusik and Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre (TSP)—the orchestra’s home venue—were awarded one of the coveted spots in this year’s Doors Open Toronto. Visitors to TSP are invited to performances by Tafelmusik and VIVA Singers Toronto. Guided and self-guided tours are available on both days. The Sunday lineup includes a free performance at 2:30 PM by members of Tafelmusik, and a family-friendly Instrument Petting Zoo. Tafelmusik’s participation in Doors Open is generously supported by the McLean Foundation.


Bach Brandenburg Concertos at The Isabel
May 30 at 7:30pmIsabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
390 King Street West, Kingston, ON
queensu.ca/theisabel 

Tafelmusik returns to the Isabel’s splendid Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall with some of the most recognized and popular works in baroque music, the Brandenburg Concertos by J.S. Bach. Creativity, originality, and boldness are on display in these ground-breaking concertos that feature novel combinations of solo instruments and an unprecedented solo cadenza for harpsichord—unheard of at the time. Tafelmusik’s 1995 recording of the Brandenburgs garnered rave reviews and won a JUNO Award. A quarter century later, Tafelmusik invites Kingston audiences to revisit four of these seminal works—Concertos 3,4,5, and 6—with newfound curiosity. Completing the program is Bach’s Orchestral Suite no. 3 in its original scoring, including the Air often referred to as the “Air on the G String.”

Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute
June 6–12 online
tafelmusik.org/tbsi

Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (TBSI) is a top-tier training program led by members of Tafelmusik and invited guests. TBSI is being held virtually this year, and auditors are invited to sit in on masterclasses, lectures, and other activities from the comfort of their homes. Auditors can observe Tafelmusik musicians working with a group of 45 participants from across Canada, the US, England, Spain, Bolivia, and South Africa. The deadline for auditor registration is June 1, and information about fees and TBSI auditor registration is available at tafelmusik.org/tbsi.


Jeanne and Johann at Montreal Baroque Festival
June 25 at 2:00pm
Rialto Theatre, 5723 Park Avenue
Montreal QC
montrealbaroque.com

Tafelmusik returns to Montreal Baroque Festival for Jeanne and Johann, a program featuring the music of Bach, as seen through a woman’s eyes. This musical homage pays tribute to the contribution of Music Director Emerita Jeanne Lamon (1949–2021), who forged a path for women in music in Canada and beyond. The program includes the Ciaccona in D Minor and Vergnügte Ruh from Cantata 170, both in arrangements by Jeanne Lamon, Sinfonia to BWV 249a in an arrangement by former double bassist Alison Mackay, excerpts from Goldberg Variations in a chamber arrangement by Tafelmusik, Sinfonia to Cantata 42, and Orchestral Suite no. 3 in D Major. This concert is part of Montreal Baroque’s 2022 edition, Feminine Cadence, which celebrates the thrilling compositions and achievements of women composers and musicians.

Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2021/22 concert season, and our government partners, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

ABOUT TAFELMUSIK

Tafelmusik is an orchestra, choir, and experience that celebrates beauty through music of the past. Founded over 40 years ago on the pillars of passion, learning, and artistic excellence, Tafelmusik continues to bring new energy to baroque music and beyond. Historically informed performances of 17th- to 19th-century instrumental and choral music share the stage with vibrant, insightful multimedia programs, and bold new music written just for the group. Each piece is played on period instruments, underscored and illuminated by scholarship.

Through dynamic performances, international touring, award-winning recordings, and comprehensive education programs, Tafelmusik invites audiences to engage with beauty and experience the breadth of emotion music can inspire.

Website: tafelmusik.org
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Media contact:

Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications
luisa@luisatrisi.com | 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7